Christmas Cake tray bake shades of cinnamon

Christmas Cake Tray Bake

Fruity, light and and spicy – this year’s delicious light Christmas Cake.  Made in a tray, it is perfect for a “quick night before, forgot to make a Christmas Cake”, kind of cake.  Heavy fruit mince Christmas Cakes are a thing of the past, and this one has a small amount of fruit mince with some candied ginger, citrus peel and banana to lighten it.  Its the type of cake you could make all year around without hesitation.

Christmas Cake

This cake can be eaten as soon as it has cooled and also stays fresh for up to two weeks in an airtight container, which makes it so versatile over the festive season.

Christmas cake

Happy Christmas baking.

Tray bake christmas cake

Christmas cake

 

4 from 2 votes
Christmas Cake
Christmas Cake Tray Bake
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
55 mins
Total Time
1 hr 10 mins
 
Course: Baking
Servings: 25
Author: The Australian Women's Weekly
Ingredients
  • 250 g 1 1/2cups mixed dried fruit (sultanas, raisins etc.)
  • 60 g 1/3cup finely chopped glace ginger
  • 450 g jar fruit mince
  • 175 g butter chopped coarsely
  • 150 g 2/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons citrus peel can use lemon and orange rind if you cant find citrus peel
  • 125 ml 1/2cup brandy
  • 5 ml 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
  • 3 eggs beaten lightly
  • 140 g 1/2 cup mashed banana. You will need about 2 bananas to make this weight
  • 225 g 1 1/2cups plain flour
  • 75 g 1/2 cup self raising flour
  • 70 g 1/2 cup slivered almonds
  • 2 Tbsp lemon juice
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 160ºC .
  2. Grease and line with baking paper a 32x22cm rectangular baking tray/oven tray.
  3. In a medium saucepan combine fruit mix, ginger, fruit mince, butter, sugar, citrus peel, lemon juice and the brandy. Stir over medium heat until the butter has melted and sugar dissolved. Bring to the boil and remove from the heat. Stir in the baking soda. This will make the mixture bubble up. Transfer to a large bowl to cool .

  4. Stir mashed banana and eggs into the fruit mixture.
  5. Sift the dry ingredients into the mixture and stir until well combined.
  6. Spread the mixture into the greased pan and sprinkle with slivered almonds.
  7. Bake for about 55 minutes.
  8. Test that it is cooked through and then allow to cool in the pan.
  9. Cut into squares and serve dusted with icing sugar.

 

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14 Comments

  • Reply ratna December 7, 2016 at 10:33 PM

    Not only do the treats looks delicious, your styling captures the essence of the season beautifully. Well done Ev!

    • Reply Shades of Cinnamon December 7, 2016 at 10:50 PM

      Thank you for your support Ratna – it is always so busy at this time of the year, so an easy cake like this is a must. xxx

  • Reply Sugar et al. December 7, 2016 at 11:53 PM

    These are such joyful pictures…very festive and lovely! Gorgeous cake…2 slices for me please:-)

  • Reply Tara Jones December 8, 2016 at 1:49 PM

    Wonderful food styling and a great post. Have a very nice Christmas and New Year

  • Reply Stephanie December 8, 2016 at 1:52 PM

    I love how this cake looks like it is very easy. It looks like a nice cake for my church teas

  • Reply Antojo en tu cocina January 2, 2017 at 8:40 PM

    Beautifull and delicious!! Happy new year!

    • Reply Shades of Cinnamon January 2, 2017 at 9:40 PM

      Thank you so much Maite and a very happy new year to you too.

  • Reply Jannine Houghton December 10, 2017 at 9:38 PM

    Thank you for this recipe. I have tried it and it was lovely. I am a little confused by the reference to lemon juice in the instructions, but it is not listed in the ingredients. Regardless, this was a lovely recipe.

    • Reply Shades of Cinnamon December 11, 2017 at 12:29 PM

      Hi Jannine I am so sorry I have amended the recipe – it should read 2 TBLSP lemon juice. Thanks for your kind words anyway. Have a wonderful Christmas season

  • Reply Alma November 25, 2019 at 9:10 PM

    By dried fruit cake mix do you just mean mixed dried fruits (sultanas, currants etc) or do you mean a packet cake mix? I’m in the UK so I’m not sure and there is no mention of the cake mix in the instructions. Confused…

    • Reply Shades of Cinnamon December 9, 2019 at 10:46 AM

      Hi Alma, I apologise for the delay in replying to you I have been travelling for the past 6 weeks and for some reason my emails from my blog were not coming through to me. Yes I do mean mixed dried fruit, not the packet cake mix. I have amended the recipe for more clarification. Have a wonderful festive season.

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